PROGRAMME AND ABSTRACTS - Università degli Studi di Messina

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from perceptive data. The radiant light which emanates from gemstones is compared with the
visual ray. The analysis of the literary sources provides us with the peculiar traits of this
relation: the brilliant ray of gemstones does not shine like the human eyes; it is the equivalent
of eyes endowed with an extraordinary sight. The referents are often animals that are able to
see in the darkness or to bear the sight of the sun, such us the wolf and the eagle, and animals
endowed of eyes which grow again such us the swallow and the lizard. This metaphorical
correspondence found itself on ‘sympathetic’ links and supports beliefs about healing power of
gemstones. The lapidaries, in fact, report much information about medical prescriptions that
were considered useful for eye diseases, and they appeal to many eye drops (rhinion,
chelidonium, hieracium, lynkeus). Moreover, literary sources witness the efficacy of gemstones
in intensifying the human sight beyond the permitted boundary. In this view, gemstones look
like additional eyes, able to bring into focus what is forbidden to the human sight (such us the
lapis heliotropius which enable to see the solar eclipse or the dracontia which provides with a
double pupil). The reflecting power of gemstones is able to caused hallucinations and, at the
same time, its surface is conceived such as an object capable to catch and materialize imagines
of another dimension. Gemstone’ brightness is the starting point to put in relations the stone
and the inextinguishable lights which emanate from gods, according to opinion which was
already present in the Mesopotamian culture and generally in ancient Near East. The shining
stone is not a simple material entity but it is the instrument to light up the sphere of invisibility,
such us in the anecdote of the block of marble which produce the epiphany of Silenus (Pliny,
N.h., 36.14). It will be interesting to examine some examples, in order to highlight the elements
referable to the Greek and Roman world and elements to trace back to other religious
traditions.
Cesare Magazzù, University of Messina, Italy
Paolo VI e l’Europa
Tina Mahlamäki, University of Turku, Finland
Wed 16 th , 9.00, Classroom Aula Magna
Tue 15 th , 18.20, Classroom 6
The Discussions and Image of Emanuel Swedenborg in the 19th century Newspapers of
Finland
Despite extensive studies on the influence of Swedish scientist and visionary Emanuel
Swedenborg (1688–1771) on prominent persons and movements in modern culture, there has
virtually been no research made on the reception of his ideas in Finland. In my paper I will
map and evaluate the Discussions of Swedenborg in 19 th century newspapers published in
Finland. All newspapers are available in digitized form from the database of the National
Library of Finland. By analyzing articles dealing with Swedenborg I will trace the ways his
ideas spread and contextualized in the public discourses. In the paper I will demonstrate that
Swedenborg and his theological and spiritual ideas form self-evident part of the public
knowledge in the 19 th century Finland.
Tue 15 th , 16.00, Classroom 12